Debatable Decisions – Week Nine – Part One

Week Nine and in our first round of games the officials seemed to do quite well, well most of them. Five games and just six decisions for our judges to consider, however, five of those decisions came in just the one match and I’m sure Aston Villa and West Brom fans will be desperate to find out how many the officials got right and how many they got wrong. Ben and Simon will be our judges for today.

Aston Villa – West Brom

First Alan Hutton Tackle On Shane Long

The former Rangers and Spurs right back decided to give West Brom’s summer signing a feisty introduction to the game with a tackle that looked ok in real time, but looked horrific on replay. No card was shown.

Ben: “This is an awful challenge, definitely reckless and definitely deserving of a red card. I baffled as to how it went unpunished by the referee.”

Simon: “I’ve got to be honest, I have no idea how this escaped a yellow card, let alone a red card. It was a disgraceful tackle, no intention of going for the ball, high and late, one of the worst incorrect decisions of the season so far.”

Comments from other judges: “Other players would have been slaughtered in the media, this was a terrible terrible tackle and worthy of a red card.”

“My first instinct was just a tough tackle but in the replays it looks horrible. I do feel that Hutton was going for the ball but both feet were off the ground and it was dangerous. I feel a red may have been harsh given that he went for, and got, the ball but a yellow certainly for the uncontrolled nature of the tackle.”

Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision

Second Hutton Tackle On Long

The Baggies striker decided to give Hutton a taste of his own medicine with a shove as the ball went out for a throw in, for some bizarre reason Hutton felt that he was the one who had been wronged and set about hacking Long down for a second time and ending the striker’s game.

Ben: “Yellow card thoroughly earned, I do however think Hutton should have probably had a free-kick seconds earlier when Long nudged him over.”

Simon: “At the very least this should have been his second yellow, but we can’t think like that, so yeah, yellow card deserved and I agree with Ben, probably shouldn’t even have happened as Long deserved a yellow for his initial shove.”

Comments from other judges: “Easy yellow card a stupid move by an obviously frustrated player.”

“There’s actually not an awful lot in this for me, and I would have liked to see Long get the yellow on his barge into Hutton preceding it but given the previous challenge and the risk of this duel getting out of control a yellow was definitely the right decision.”

Overall Verdict: Correct Decision

Villa Penalty

With the ball rolling back towards the area West Brom defender Stephen Reid decided that his keeper should come and collect it, he failed to protect his keeper from the onrushing Gabby Agbonlahor though and the Villa forward nipped in and seemed to get the ball first before tumbling over Ben Foster.

Ben: “Steven Reid really needed to concentrate on holding Agbonlahor back as he was trying to do. If he does his job, Foster collects the ball and the game continues. Gabby deserves a lot of credit for not giving up and nicking that ball away which caused Foster to miss it.”

Simon: “No arguments from me, it was an obvious penalty and the only real debatable decision was that of Stephen Reid to allow Agbonlahor in to make a tackle on Foster, shocking. The referee had no choice.”

Comments from other judges: “Rushed out and took him out a clear penalty in my eyes.”

“Really unfortunate for Foster this one, but quick thinking by Agbonlahor – he was only ever looking for the penalty in this situation and that’s why I feel bad for Foster – but he did succeed in poking the ball before Foster could get there and to the letter of the law there’s no question.”

Overall Verdict: Correct Decision

West Brom Penalty & Herd Red Card

It came as something of a shock to everyone at Villa park, except Olsson, when a penalty was awarded for a foul on the West Brom defender and a red card shown to Aston Villa youngster, Herd. Was there a stamp, was there a trip? The linesman certainly saw something. (Decisions made before FA revoked Herd’s red card).

Ben: “I really can’t see how anyone can be sure of this one. In real-time, it certainly looked like a stamp but I really can’t tell from the shoddy camera angle given as the replay. I’m not sure if he’s just trying to get free of Olsson or if he actually did kick out. I’ve seen many say that it can’t have been a stamp because Olsson didn’t react which doesn’t prove anything for two reasons.

1) It may have been an ‘attempted’ stamp which didn’t connect and 2) Olsson should have been given a penalty last week and didn’t appeal at all, even though it was a stonewall penalty.”

Simon: “Same as Ben, I just can’t say for certain about either incident. The initial contact certainly doesn’t look deliberate, like legs get tangled, certainly nothing malicious, but it’s the movement Herd makes after that that seems to earnt him his red card. Whether that movement was because he was trying to break free or because he was trying to stamp on Olsson….I honestly can’t say. Undecided.”

Comments from other judges: “Terrible decision I thought it was a coming together and nothing more, to send someone off for this is a disgrace. MOTD said the linesman gave it and not the referee I cannot believe this was given by any official.” & “I see very little in this, half of one at the most. I really can’t understand why the linesman felt the need to flag it – I don’t think the ref missed it, I think he dismissed it just as he should have but clearly after the initial tussle that got caught the linesman had his eye on them and was determined they wouldn’t put a foot wrong. Very poor decision.”

Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision

Odemwingie Goal Disallowed Offside

The Nigerian front man looked to have beaten the offside trap expertly before firing a cracking left footed finish past Shay Given, but his celebrations were cut short by a flag raised from the same official who awarded the Herd penalty.

Ben: “The high angle replay of this doesn’t really show it effectively enough to be sure but he looks about level and if he’s off, it’s by about a millimetre.”

Simon: “Definitely not enough in this for the linesman to make an offside call, in my opinion. The goal should have stood, poor decision.”

Comments from other judges: “I think he is just about level but it is extremely hard to tell from the replays so it would have been even harder decision for the linesman.”

“A total nightmare of a game for that linesman with another horrible decision. When did ‘air between them’ stop being the rule?”

Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision

Wolves – Swansea

O’Hara Penalty Shout

Wolves trailed this match 2-0 at one point and how different that 2-2 comeback might have been had they been given a penalty when their star midfielder, Jamie O’Hara was brought down in the Swansea area as they pushed on in search of goals.

Ben: “What is it about poor camera angles this week? Again, it’s a tough one to call based on the replay that MOTD showed but I couldn’t see enough to give a penalty.”

Simon: “I think the tackle was really clumsy and almost definitely knocked him off his stride, if it hadn’t been for that he would have been firing at goal or playing a cross back into a packed area. Definite penalty as far as I’m concerned.”

Comments from other judges: “The view is not totally clear but from what I can see it does not look like a penalty.” & “There seems to be a tug – if the man in the middle doesn’t see it he shouldn’t give it here in my view or you’ll get strikers diving all the time, but he should have seen it and he should have given a penalty.”

Overall Verdict: Correct Decision

Read part two here